on the mouth.
I’d never kissed a boy before. That wasn’t the sort of thing a proper lady would do without an engagement ring, at the very least, but my prospects of being a proper lady were slim. I returned the kiss, tentatively at first, but then with more vigor as my entire body came to life.
I was left breathless when Alec pulled away. Keeping his hands on my shoulders, he said, “I’ll see you in the morning, Verity.” After a light kiss on my forehead, he released me. He waited until I’d opened the front door, and I gave him a shy wave as I slipped inside. I practically floated up the stairs to Lizzie’s room.
“You two took long enough to say good night,” she teased when I entered.
“We had things to discuss,” I said, hoping I didn’t blush badly enough to give myself away.
“Oh, I’m sure it was a very deep discussion.”
Now I knew my cheeks had to be flaming. What must she think of me? “Was it that obvious?”
“Only to someone who was watching the two of you all evening. I do believe our Alec is smitten. He’ll probably name his next engine after you. The question is, are you as smitten as he is?”
I sat on the couch and hugged a pillow to my chest. “Oh, yes, very much so.” It was nice to have someone I could confide in. I might have burst if I’d had to keep this all to myself.
“I suppose that means you’ve decided to join us tomorrow,” she said.
Only then did I realize that I’d never actually made a firm decision. I’d been swept along with all the fervor of Alec’s cause and his kisses, but now I didn’t think I could turn back.
In spite of the late night, we were up early the next morning to get supplies for the outing. Lizzie stopped in front of a bakery and took a list and a few bills out of her purse. “It may take a loaves and fishes miracle to get enough food for a proper picnic,” she said with a frown.
I handed her the money Lord Henry had given me. “This may help.”
“Verity, you don’t have to give us money.”
“It’s not mine. Lord Henry gave it to me for the children.” Anticipating the protest her horrified expression told me was coming, I added, “And, no, I didn’t tell him where I was going or exactly what I was doing, but I needed to give him a reason I’d be away for the weekend, and I thought that a charity project with slum children would meet with no objection. He insisted on contributing to the cause.”
She counted the money and let out a low whistle. “He was very generous. We can get fruit and sweets.”
“Not all magisters are evil oppressors. It’s not the magic that makes them bad.”
“He still lives far better than anyone in this part of town, and it’s the magic that allows him that life without toil. Magic corrupts.” As she whirled to enter the shop, I winced at the reminder that she might not accept me if she knew what I really was.
After we’d finished shopping, Lizzie stopped at a street corner and faced me, her expression very serious. “I need to know if you’re in this with us.”
“I said I wouldn’t stop you, and I’m here with you now.”
“That’s not what I meant. Are you choosing to be one of us, to be a full member of the movement? Can we trust you absolutely?”
“Well, of course,” I said, somewhat annoyed at being questioned. “I’ve been writing for you and passing on information. Even when I don’t entirely agree, I’d never betray you.”
She regarded me a moment longer, then nodded. “Very well, then. That’s what I needed to know. Come on.” She resumed walking and led me to an old opera house with a faded sign announcing it at as the home of the university theatrical society. “You’ll need to pin on your insignia to get through the door,” Lizzie told me, and I realized she’d taken me directly to the Mechanics’ headquarters, which meant they now considered me a member. So that was what that odd little scene had been about. She’d been making sure of me before trusting me with that last bit of information. There would be no going back now.
The door guard waved me inside with a slight bow of deference. Apparently it was no secret that I had brought the prized intelligence that